A Signature Season Unveiled at Signature Theatre

A Signature Season for Virginia's Signature Theatre

Artistic Director Eric Schaeffer unveiled his plans for the Signature Theatre's 2006-07 Season today which will be presented in their new home in the Village at Shirlington making it one of the more enjoyable venues for theater in the Greater Washington/Baltimore area.

Shirlington is easily accessible from I-95, just a short five minutes from Washington, DC and boasts a myriad of lovely restaurants within a block of the theatre's complex. There is also ample free parking.

This new $12.5 million complex will be comprised of a 299 seat mainstage theater named THE MAX and a more intimate 99 seat secondstage space called THE ARK.

Schaeffer will take the helm directing the inaugural production, Stephen Sondheim's "Into the Woods" from Sept. 5 - Oct. 8, 2006. This will be Schaeffer's twelfth Sondheim musical he has directed.

The classic musical "My Fair Lady" will be done the "Signature" way from Nov. 7 - Dec. 10, 2006. This will NOT be a clone of the many productions you may have seen since its Broadway debut.

The third musical of the season is the world premiere of "Saving Aimee" based on the epic life of evangelist Aimee Semple. Schaeffer directed a workshop of this work in the suburbs of New York with Carollee Carmello playing the lead and will direct this as well. Kathie Lee Gifford did the book and lyrics. Performances will be January 23-Feb. 27, 2007.

A Hebrew adaptation of "Hamlet" done by the Cameri Theatre of Tel Aviv (with projected English translation) will be presented as part of the Shakespeare in Washington Festival from March 6-11, 2007. This unique presentation will have actors on stages among the audience who will be sitting on swivel chairs.

For Jason Robert Brown fans who thoroughly enjoyed his musical "The Last Five Years" at Baltimore's Everyman Theatre (also done in Virginia), will get the opportunity to see his highly acclaimed revue "Songs for a New World" which will be presented at the new Concert Hall at the Music Center at Strathmore located in Bethesda, MD on March 16 and 17, 2007. Schaeffer will be directing.

For a complete schedule of the season, go to www.signature-theatre.org.